Open Your Doors Day is a nationwide initiative that encourages businesses and organisations to open their workplaces to the public – especially young people, students, and jobseekers – giving them a unique behind-the-scenes look at different industries.

It’s about breaking down barriers, demystifying the world of work, and helping people see the wide variety of careers that exist within our region. For businesses, it’s not just a chance to showcase what you do – it’s an opportunity to inspire the next generation, build stronger community connections, and highlight the pathways into your industry.

This directly supports the ambitions set out in Mayor Richard Parker’s Growth Plan for the West Midlands, which places young people at the heart of regional growth. By providing access, exposure, and inspiration, initiatives like Open Your Doors Day ensure that the next generation is equipped with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to thrive in the future economy.

With skills gaps and talent shortages continuing to challenge employers, Open Your Doors Day plays a vital role in making workplaces more accessible and attractive. By taking part, companies can position themselves as inclusive, forward-thinking employers who are actively investing in future talent.

At the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), we know first-hand the difference that access and exposure can make to someone’s career journey. This summer, Mahfuza Ahmed, a recent Access to Politics Intern, spent time with us exploring what life is like inside a regional authority.

Her reflections offer a powerful reminder of why initiatives like Open Your Doors Day matter – they’re about creating opportunities, opening minds, and giving young people the confidence to imagine themselves in spaces they may never have considered before.

Pictured above (left to right) are this Summer's Access to Politics interns - Mahfuza (highlighted in this blog), Izman, Eman, Mayor Richard Parker, Chyanne, Oliver, Aiyesha and Francesca.

Mahfuza’s Summer at WMCA: Why Opening Doors Matters

This summer, Mahfuza Ahmed joined WMCA as an Access to Politics Intern, working with the Economic Policy & Partnerships team. Her placement gave her an inside look at how regional policy can shape opportunity and why inclusive growth is so vital for communities like Aston, where she grew up.

During her internship, Mahfuza helped coordinate WMCA’s involvement in Innovate UK’s No Limits webinar, ensuring that conversations around innovation reached a wide and diverse audience. She also supported BGWM in communications planning and developed an options appraisal on cooperatives across sectors such as health & social care, high streets, energy, and housing, demonstrating how community ownership can drive resilience and shared prosperity.

She attended key forums, gathered insights from business leaders, and engaged with projects like the Further Education & Innovation Fund, analysing feedback to ensure funding better meets local needs.

Reflecting on the stark economic disparities between neighbourhoods like Aston and Sutton Coldfield, Mahfuza highlighted how access to networks, funding, and opportunities can be the difference between a young person starting a business or being left behind.

Her experience reinforced the very purpose of Open Your Doors Day: when organisations open their doors, they don’t just show what’s possible they inspire confidence, break down barriers, and make inclusive growth real.

Final thoughts

Opening your doors to young people isn’t just an act of goodwill, it’s a smart investment in the future of your business and the wider region. By giving the next generation access to your workplace, you help them build the confidence, connections, and skills they need to thrive.

For businesses, the benefits are equally clear: fresh perspectives, stronger community ties, and the chance to shape the talent pipeline of tomorrow. Initiatives like Open Your Doors Day show how employers can play a vital role in tackling inequalities and making opportunity more inclusive.

When businesses step forward to inspire and involve young people, they don’t just open their doors, they open possibilities for a stronger, fairer West Midlands.